How much does a chemist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $43.87 an hour or $7,603 a month.
- Hourly
- $43.87
- Average (mean)
- $100,500
- Jobs
- 82,770
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,460 | $28.11 | |
| 25th | $69,460 | $33.39 | |
| Median | $91,240 | $43.87 | |
| 75th | $125,600 | $60.36 | |
| 90th | $160,800 | $77.32 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $149,900 |
| Maryland | $140,700 |
| Delaware | $129,900 |
| New Mexico | $127,000 |
| Massachusetts | $125,000 |
| Alaska | $106,000 |
| Oregon | $104,600 |
| Louisiana | $103,900 |
| Wyoming | $102,000 |
| Colorado | $102,000 |
| Rhode Island | $101,700 |
| New Hampshire | $100,100 |
| Texas | $99,640 |
| Minnesota | $99,280 |
| Connecticut | $98,140 |
| California | $97,860 |
| Alabama | $97,830 |
| Michigan | $97,440 |
| Washington | $97,420 |
| North Dakota | $97,330 |
| Virginia | $96,650 |
| Georgia | $92,750 |
| New York | $90,600 |
| Tennessee | $87,930 |
| Vermont | $86,120 |
| Iowa | $86,100 |
| West Virginia | $85,560 |
| Ohio | $85,270 |
| Illinois | $85,230 |
| New Jersey | $84,450 |
| Hawaii | $84,150 |
| Kentucky | $84,090 |
| Kansas | $82,820 |
| Missouri | $82,800 |
| Florida | $82,740 |
| North Carolina | $82,620 |
| Arizona | $81,730 |
| Nevada | $81,170 |
| Utah | $80,770 |
| Mississippi | $80,060 |
| South Carolina | $79,670 |
| Indiana | $78,770 |
| Wisconsin | $78,730 |
| Idaho | $78,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,090 |
| Arkansas | $75,570 |
| Oklahoma | $74,960 |
| Nebraska | $74,890 |
| South Dakota | $67,440 |
| Maine | $64,440 |
| Montana | $61,890 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Washington, DC | $144,700 |
| Bay City, MI | $132,500 |
| Midland, TX | $131,900 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $131,800 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $128,300 |
| San Francisco, CA | $127,800 |
| Boston, MA | $127,300 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $127,000 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $123,800 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $122,400 |
| Norwich, CT | $121,800 |
| Baltimore, MD | $118,900 |
| Athens, GA | $118,000 |
| San Jose, CA | $114,900 |
| Albany, NY | $110,900 |
In other countries
Chemist belongs to the international group "Chemists".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Astronomer$128,800
- Physicist$172,300
- Atmospheric and Space Scientist$99,070
- Materials Scientist$117,800
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist$82,220
- Geoscientist$101,900
- Hydrologist$96,600
- Physical Scientist$122,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $43.87 ($91,240 a year).
How much does a chemist make a month?
About $7,603 a month before tax, based on a median of $91,240 a year.
How much does a chemist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $58,460 or less a year ($28.11 an hour); the top 10% make $160,800 or more.
Which state pays chemists the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $149,900 a year, followed by Maryland ($140,700) and Delaware ($129,900).
Which city pays chemists the most?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, with a median of $144,700 a year.
How many chemists are there in the United States?
About 82,770 people work as chemists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.